"This is something that will have to come from the community to us"

City Councilor Joel Sipress at his listening session on the cost of living in Duluth

Credit Lisa Johnson

A couple of things seemed to emerge from last month's Local Solutions to End Poverty Accountability Session: Duluth's lack of housing - and the cost of the housing there is - is becoming an issue for people of all income levels in the Northland.

One solution is the creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund ... but where is $3 million dollars a year going to come from?

One city councilor has a suggestion - but says you didn't hear it from him.

Imagine having to to sit through classes with 95 different teachers before you find one that looks like you.

Imagine being a student of color and knowing that your chances of graduating high school were only 52 to 66 percent in Duluth -- but your guidance counselors each have 416 students to advise and help.

Imagine what you could do if Duluth had a universal scholarship program like one launched in Michigan ten years ago: one that would pay tuition to a state college for any student who graduates from the Duluth Public Schools.

KUMD is licensed to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota